RCS MESSAGING

[Dab2899]

With the introduction of RCS messaging to iOS 18, will O2 UK be supporting this feature for iPhones?

[madasaf1sh]

@Dab2899 

I doubt it for a while, as so far the only network who does is EE, and dont get your hopes up too much on RCS for iOS as its 2 or 3 versions of the standard behind the current Android standard, so no reactions or some other features as well

Apple have only released it for compliance with the Chinese regulators and have done the bare minimum

[Dab2899]

Thanks very much for the clarification and insight.

[Drink]

iOS 18 released to U.K. should support RCS 

[aidenbliss789 · Accepted solution]

to quote the megathread on the iPhone 16 and Watch 10 

We are working to ensure that RCS is available for all our customers as soon as possible

[madasaf1sh]

@aidenbliss789 

Don't believe that as the current Apple implementation, as I said up this thread is a pile of poo, as its  3 versions out, and is a compliance release to appease the Chinese Regulators.. 

If it appears on o2 (Voda or Three as well) you wont be able to use a lot of features... best place to look is on MacRumors.com

[aidenbliss789]

well Vodafone has said on socials that they are waiting for Google approval to enable RCS on iPhone 

[madasaf1sh]

@aidenbliss789 

Google provide the servers based on Jibe and that's it to Network Operators, not sure why they have to approve it as the RCS Standards are managed by the GSMA and is based on 3GPP IMS standards.. 

No idea why Vodafone think Google need to approve it as Google Dont own RCS and never have done...

[aidenbliss789]

if only RCS was brought last year to iPhone  Vodafone probably wouldn't have turned off its carrier's own RCS

[Enlli]

My wife is on Vodafone. They turned off their own service over 2 years ago and moved to Google / Jibe.